The Madras High Court Bench here on Monday transferred the hearing of two public interest litigations seeking ban on processions by political parties and other outfits to pay homage to political leaders and freedom fighters on their memorial days to the Madras High Court.
The petitioners, A. Irulandi, secretary of Social Justice Forum, and K.K. Ramesh, managing trustee of Centre for Public Interest Litigation, claimed that communal tension prevailed in the southern districts every year while observing the birth anniversaries and the memorials of the leaders.
According to the petitioners, seven persons belonging to a particular community died on September 10, 2011 in Paramakudi on the occasion of the death anniversary of Immanuvel Sekaran. During the death anniversary of Maruthu Brothers, a sub-inspector of police - Alwin Sudhan - was killed on October 27, 2012 in Vembathur, Sivaganga district, the counsel said.
At the guru pooja of Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar from October 30, 2012 to November 1, 2012, public property was damaged and more than six people were injured in Ramanathapuram, the counsel pointed out.
Therefore, the processions should be banned, they pleaded. A division bench comprising Justices M. Jaichandren and R. Karuppiah noted that a similar case was pending in the Madras High Court and transferred the cases.
